Longhorns go bland to stomp on Cowboys

Updated 11:55 pm, Saturday, September 1, 2012

David Ash throws for the Longhorns as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

David Ash throws for the Longhorns as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Malcolm Brown turns back into the field after a long gain on the sideline as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Malcolm Brown turns back into the field after a long gain on the sideline as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Malcolm Brown slants toward the goal line between Korey Jones (5) and Kenny Browder as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Malcolm Brown slants toward the goal line between Korey Jones (5) and Kenny Browder as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Joe Bergeron breaks loose for a good gain in the third quarter as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Joe Bergeron breaks loose for a good gain in the third quarter as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Joe Bergeron sprints to the left to score in the fourth quarter as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Joe Bergeron sprints to the left to score in the fourth quarter as Texas hosts Wyoming at D.K.Royal Stadium in Austin on September 1, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

Longhorns go bland to stomp on Cowboys

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AUSTIN — All summer long, Texas coach Mack Brown talked about wanting his squad to run the ball like those bruising teams in the Southeastern Conference.

The Longhorns took a forceful step to that aim Saturday night, wearing down Wyoming for a determined 37-17 victory.

Brown's game plan against the Cowboys was bland but effective. Dueling tailbacks Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown both topped 100 yards as the Longhorns opted to rely on their ground game and safe passes from quarterback David Ash.

It wasn't pretty, but the methodical beatdown was forcibly emphatic. The Longhorns twice scored on fourth-down plunges and piled up 280 yards rushing against a defense that ranked 115th nationally last season.

“We feel like we can run the ball well now,” Mack Brown said. “We should be able to run the ball against anybody. We're really confident with our running game. We wanted to pound them early, and we wore them down some.”

Ash played all but UT's final drive. Other than his fumble early in the fourth quarter, he played better as the game continued as he led the Longhorns on five scoring drives during a span of six offensive possessions to put the game away.

“I thought we played winning football,” said Ash, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Bergeron (110 yards, two TDs) and Brown (105 yards, one TD) took turns bludgeoning the Wyoming defense. It was the second time that both backs topped 100 yards in the same game.

“They did good a job, but it wasn't just them but our O-line,” Ash said. “They really wore them down as the game went on. It was successful, so I was happy.”

And so was UT offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, who mixed a few tricks into his game plan. The Longhorns ran effectively outside and used Bergeron successful from the “wild” package.

But when they needed to put the Cowboys away, it was back to the basics — just like Brown has been hoping for.

“Always philosophy wise, you want to be able to run the ball well and be a physical tough team,” Harsin said. “It has to start with the run game. In the fourth quarter, Joe had a couple of runs, and we got it going there, and we started to hammer the ball like we wanted to.”